THE TABLES

This small Japanese style tea table, made out of beech wood, is decorated with polished varnished bronze decorations and inlays of ebony and mother-of-pearl.
The top is decorated with a fan which leaf is carved in wood and which strands are made out of ebony inlaid with mother of pearl. A butterfly embellishes the composition. A polished varnished bronze dragon is winding on one end of the table top. The vivacity of his posture and the precision of the bronze details are of great finesse and sophistication, like the other bronze pieces adorning this table. The center of the openwork apron is adorned with a bronze plate where have been chiseled various floral motifs. Four bronze heads of Foo dogs are at the top of the feet. The many details composing these figures, such as the curves and undulations of their manes, are remarkable. The feet support an openwork stretcher. The feet end with sharp claws carved into the wood.

We find on the the foot where all the Japan inspired decoration sets, a mix between empty and full spaces. The strut is adorned with a beautiful and threatening dragon, which we find very often on other furniture made by Viardot. The belt engraved decoration takes from the geometrical scrolls inspired by the japanese ornamentation, they come to frame a cartouche on center depicting a floral decoration.

The extreme attention brought to the creation of this furniture by Gabriel Viardot is translateed trough the original composition and the rich decorations inspired by the Japanese art.